"You'll never get away with this," I spat, hurling away from the captain the moment he released me.

He didn't answer right away as he slowly cross his cabin to drop into the seat behind his desk. When he'd secured both hand and hook behind his head, he laughed heartily.

"Get away with this? You really don't know much about piracy, do you Princess?" He stopped, pretending to look around his otherwise empty cabin. "I don't exactly see anyone rushing to seize me, do you?"

There was a gleam in his eye as he regarded me. He had me and he knew it. I knew it. Out here, in open waters, pirates lived by their own code. He'd proved that already.

I moved to stand before his desk, lifting a map which I then studied. Suddenly, I felt the fight drain from me as I realized he could easily kill us all and there wasn't a thing we could do to stop him.

All the relief I'd felt at seeing Graham, all the relief at knowing my rescue would soon come - all of it had gone. We had only the captain standing between us and there would be no reasoning with him.

Or would there?

"Just, please, don't kill him," I whispered, my eyes remaining firmly locked on the map.

He didn't answer for a long moment and I thought I could almost feel his smirk when, suddenly, the map disappeared from my hands. I looked up as he snatched it back and found him eying his desk warily.

He returned the map where I'd found it as he said, "Princess, you really don't understand piracy. Of course I'll kill him. He's a prisoner and not one I can count as treasure, like yourself."

I felt the sting of his words as I lost Graham all over again. First I'd thought I would never see him again and now that I had him back, it would be only to lose him again. This time, for good.

I fought to keep the tears from my eyes and the emotion from my voice as I gave him my counter offer. "Kill him and I won't live to see the next morning. And then how will you get your precious gold?"

Where there had, just moments before, been an amused smirk, it suddenly died on his face and the captain rose to his full height. His mouth was set in a firm line, his eyes blazing as he leaned across the desk, his face stopping merely inches from mine.

"Why make empty threats, Princess, when you know you have no intention of keeping them?"

It unnerved me, having his face so near and I fought the urge to recoil, instead holding my ground.

"And what makes you think it's an empty threat?"

At this remark, a bit of the captain's smile returned. "Ah, so your memory still hasn't returned. You don't remember just how I lured you aboard this ship. Well, I wager when you do remember, you'll come to realize that that lad is not a cause worth dying for."

My eyes narrowed as I searched for the meaning in his words. When an answer didn't come immediately, I instead spat, "You make me sick."

His grin only widened as he, apparently sensing himself out of danger, pulled his hand from the top of the desk and dropped back into his seat.

"Sticks and stones, love. Besides, I didn't say when I'd be killing him."

I cocked my head, raising an eyebrow as I considered this. Just what did he mean? He had spared both Graham and the other captain. I had assumed it was because they were the only two who could've given the orders to stop him. I'd thought he meant to kill them later. Now, I wasn't so sure. Did he have some other reason to keep them alive? One he'd yet to reveal?

But by his comment, I was satisfied this meant Graham was safe, at least, for now. And where this thought should have comforted me, it brought only more fear. It meant there would be a time when Graham wouldn't be safe. And that thought frightened me most of all. I started to further question him about his intentions but before I had my chance, he rose.

This time he rounded the desk, moving toward me. "Enough talk, lass. A woman doesn't usually find herself alone in the captain's quarters just for a chat." He grinned as he wrapped an arm around my waist and his hook slipped beneath the sash of the red dress, pulling me into his arms. I had only just prepared to fight when there was a knock upon the door and Smee called, "Captain?"

Clearly disappointed, the captain released me on his own and commanded the crewman to enter.

"We're ready to set sail, Captain. The other crew has been properly disposed and the Albatross is cleaned and ready to be manned."

The captain nodded as he listened to this report. "Good, Smee. Then you are ready to set sail."

Smee nodded and bowed low. "Aye, Captain. We trust you will treat the Roger well in our absence. We will you see in port in a few weeks."

The captain only nodded and wished Smee well before dismissing him. I'd listened to this exchange with wide eyes and, as soon as the door clicked shut behind Smee, rounded on the captain.

"What did you mean by that? Have a safe trip?"

With a smug smile, the captain raised a brow. "Highness, what exactly did you think we were going to do with two ships? Start a fleet? My crew will sail the other one to port and sell it. Then, when it's safe, I will return for them and the Jolly Roger will be once more on its way, free to continue with this, our life of piracy."

I merely gaped at this explanation as I voiced the one question that had already begun to haunt me. "The crew? All of them?"

"Aye, lass, all of them."

"You mean you're going to sail this ship all on your own?"

At this, he looked hurt. "Captain," he pointed out.

I leaned forward slightly and grasped his left sleeve, pulling his arm into view. "But you only have one hand." And then it dawned on me. "That's why you won't be killing them yet."

His face lit up as he pulled free from my grasp and returned to his place behind the desk.

"Now you're getting it."

—

With a deafening clang as the metal polls collided, the door to my prison swung shut. I watched as the captain turned the key, locking me inside. "Home sweet home," I muttered.

He held up the lantern to catch my expression and, at its sight, grinned wickedly.

"Fret not, love. It's not forever. Just until my crew is on its way with the other ship and we have safely set our course." He held the lantern a little higher before adding, "We wouldn't want any attempts to escape, now would we?"

As he said this, his eyes flickered to Graham and Smith, both locked in another cage to my right, before returning his gaze to me. With one last wicked grin, he turned and disappeared up the stairs and out of the brig.

In the darkness, my eyes attempted to scan our small cells as the silence fell heavily upon us. Finally, it was Graham's voice that broke it.

"Emma," he whispered and as the light spilled through the ship's cracks, I could only just make out his silhouette.

"Yes?" I answered just as quietly, moving to lean against the bars that separated us. I could only just see him do the same but when his outline was before me, I found I could feel his presence more than see it.

My hands had grasped the bars and I now felt him peel my fingers from the metal and bury them in his hands.

"I'll get us out of this," he promised. As he did, I could feel the soft smile creep onto my lips as a sudden warmth filled me.

"I know you will," I whispered, squeezing his hands. "But how did you even find me?"

I heard him swallow, hesitating and when, after a few moments, he didn't answer, I added, "Graham?"

But it was Smith who answered me. "It was your mother who sent us. Told us you'd been captured by a pirate and we'd find you somewhere at sea."

I stiffened at his words, recalling the captain's news from the night before.

"You saw her?" It was directed to Graham and I tried desperately to make out his features. Instead, I found only darkness. "She's safe?"

This time, I could almost feel his hesitation. It was Smith who, again, provided the answer.

"Not exactly. It was before her capture. She was desperate that we find you. She wanted only to ensure your safety, even above her own. I doubt her heart will last much longer anyway after your father-"

He broke off abruptly as if realizing he'd said too much. All at once, I realized I didn't want to hear the rest of that sentence. I could finish it myself. Death. After my father's death.

I swallowed hard as I pushed the thought away. There would be time to dwell on my tremendous loss after I was free of this ship. If I allowed myself to grieve now, I would never escape.

Instead, I focused on Smith's other answers. If my mother had warned them both of my capture, she must have been with me when I was taken. But why hadn't Graham told me this? Why had he let Smith provide these answers? My gut tightened and I was suddenly uneasy. Something wasn't right about this.

I squeezed Graham's hands once more before pulling my left loose and pushing it through the bars. With it I found his face and gently brushed his cheek before resting my hand at the base of his neck and pulling him closer.

I pushed my own face slightly through the bars and when we were separated by mere inches, I could make out his features at last. In them, I found the dread I hadn't been able to see before. My eyes searched his until I eventually whispered, "What aren't you telling me?"

This time, it was his eyes that searched mine for a moment until, instead of giving me an answer, he tilted his head to the left and inched his lips toward mine. He kissed me softly, slowly and in this action I could feel his pain. It was the pain of not only our separation but, also, something else. I just didn't know what.

When he pulled away, I was speechless. I still had so many questions but found I didn't have the words to voice them. But it turned out, I didn't have time to search for the words because, at that moment, the door at the top of the stairs creaked open and we heard the captain begin his descent.

With the first creaks of the worn steps, Graham held my gaze and I watched the ghost of a smile appear briefly as he gently released me and disappeared back into the shadows. I barely had time to compose myself before the captain appeared. He moved to unlock my cell first, swinging the door toward him as he gestured that I leave my prison.

When I stepped out and stopped, waiting for him to released Graham and Smith, he sighed. "Not the lot yet, I'm afraid. Just the royal."

And then his hand was on my wrist and he began dragging me away. It happened so fast, I hardly had time to begin my struggle and once I did, it didn't last long. It was only moments later when we reached the stairs and he gave me a slight push up them.

"Move along, Princess. I'll be behind in a moment."

This worried me immediately and so greatly that I instantly stopped my struggle and started up the stairs without a fuss. However, I stopped halfway and strained my ears in hopes I'd discover his reason for going back. But I was met with only silence. And then, just when I'd almost given up, the captain's voice sounded. It was low and menacing but I could hear it clearly.

"I'll warn ye now, boy. This rescue you've attempted will ultimately fail. I'd stop giving her false hope. You know as well as I that when her memories return, she won't leave with you. So why are you still fighting? You've already lost this war. Accept your defeat."

I had frozen upon hearing these words, my mind racing as to their meaning. Because of it, I didn't hear Graham's answer, if he had answered, nor anything more from the captain. It wasn't until I felt the captain's hand on the small of my back and heard his command to move along that I could even begin to regain my senses.

He'd sent me on ahead but, of course, he'd known I would overhear. He'd wanted me to overhear. He'd begun his speech the moment the steps had ceased their creaking. Once again, he held all the cards; he wielded all the power. He knew it and he'd go to any lengths to ensure I did too.

But what had he meant by it? Graham had done something terrible that had been erased from my memory? No, I refused to believe it. Not my Graham. He would never betray me.

But, then, what?

As these thoughts raced through my mind, we reached the top of the stairs and, mechanically, I pushed the door open allowing us both back onto the deck.

—

I stopped just short of the door and the captain moved around me and up to the bridge, taking the steps two at a time.

While he did, I looked around. It took me a moment to realize it but, when I did, I blinked in disbelief. The other ship was gone. I couldn't even find it on the horizon. I turned first one way and then the other, scanning every inch of the vast sea but found only miles of cool, blue ocean.

When at last I whirled to face the captain, I found him beside the helm, gazing at his compass with his brow knit as he undoubtedly attempted to steer us in the right direction. Wherever that may be.

After a moment, he snapped the compass closed, gave the helm one complete turn to the left and then squinted at the horizon.

I found this odd but my questions about the disappearance of the other ship outweighed my wonder at his strange behavior.

"The other ship?" I questioned.

His gaze locked onto me, both eyebrows simultaneously shooting into his hairline as he said, "Aye, what of her?"

"Where is she? I can't even spot her on the horizon," I replied curtly as I gestured behind me toward the open sea.

The captain only smiled, seemingly completely and utterly amused. He looked down at me as he moved to the edge of the bridge and leaned on the rail.

When his eyes again met mine, he said only, "She's gone, Princess."

I glared in response, my voice tight as I said, "Thanks, I can see that. Where has she gone?"

The captain opened his mouth as though to answer but quickly closed it once more. He brought his hand to his face and stroked his chin as he seemed to consider. He smiled without humor and this time, when he looked at me, it was with an edge. All the amusement had left him and if I'd been anyone else witnessing this phenomenon, I might've trembled in terror.

Instead, I held my ground.

"I don't think you want me to answer that, Princess. And if I were you, I wouldn't question the matter further. The other ship is gone and that is all you need know. You seem to forget that I am not a man of mercy. I may be unable to hurt you but you are no longer the only prisoner aboard this ship. And there's no prize for his safe return."

The feeling that washed over me was one I couldn't even begin to describe. For a moment, my blood ran cold as involuntary thoughts of Graham's murder swept through me. But with these images came a surge of hatred. How could this one man hold so much power over us? He no longer had an entire crew at his disposal. As I saw it, he could only promise empty threats; ones he had no hope of ever achieving.

My eyes blazed as I spat, "You. Wouldn't. Dare. You, Captain, seem to forget that you no longer have an army of miscreants to command. The three of us easily outnumber you and we could use it to our advantage, if we saw fit. Then this ship would be at our disposal and we'd be free to return home."

Although my anger staid, his amusement returned. His left brow rose as he grinned, "Yes, Princess, I can just imagine you lost at sea."

But as he said this, I could hear the edge in his voice. He seemed to size me up for a moment before he abruptly descended the stairs- again, taking them two at a time -returning to the deck. He stopped at their end and untied the sash at his waist then tossed me his set of keys.

"Fetch me Smith. I think it's time my fellow captain learned how things operate aboard my ship."

I started to hesitate but, an idea already forming, moved to obey his command. Descending back into the darkness, I tried to guess what he might have up his sleeve.

As I reached the foot of the stairs, and the lantern I had thought to grab illuminated my way, Graham called to me. "Emma? What's happened? Why have you come?"

"He sent me to fetch Captain Smith," I answered whilst I hurried across the brig, fumbling with the keys. "But I have a plan. If we all go, I think we can overpower him. It's three against one. Maybe we can knock him out and drag him down here. Make him the prisoner instead. Then we can sail to the mainland and find my mother."

Both seemed to hesitate as I finally found the right key and shoved it into the lock. It turned almost easily and the door sprang open, freeing them both. "I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Graham said slowly, carefully, almost as though he were dealing with an unruly child.

I couldn't believe it. We had the opportunity to best the captain, why not take it? "And I suppose you have a better plan?"

Graham sighed and stepped out of the cell. He pulled me into his arms and although I was still a little angry, I didn't resist.

"No," he said slowly, framing my face between his hands. "But what makes you so sure the three of us could overpower him? You saw what he did to our crew."

"You mean, what his crew did, not the captain personally," I corrected. But even as I said this, I remembered the crewman he'd murdered right before my very eyes on my first day aboard this ship. "We at least have to try," I added softly but firmly.

Smith now stepped from the cell and interjected for the first time. "The princess is right. We have to try."

Then we watched as he moved past us. Graham took my right hand in his left and after giving it a gentle squeeze, I held the lantern a little higher and we followed Smith up the stairs and back onto the deck.

When the three of us had gathered just past the closing door, we found the captain's back to us as he leaned against the port rail, staring out at the horizon. But when the door swung shut behind us, he turned and regarded us in amusement.

"Well, Princess, I see you brought the whole gang. Aye, the lost princess, the lonely hunter and the mighty navy captain. Come to finish me off? Well, we wouldn't want to waste any time."

And with that he held out both arms, so they were even with his shoulders, inviting us to take our best shot.

But none of us moved. I realized then the fault in our plan. We were unarmed, since he'd taken the swords of both men before locking them in the brig, and at this moment we now lacked the element of surprise. Any head-on attack would be undoubtedly met with the point of his sword. We were ill prepared to take him on and he knew it.

With faux disappointment, he asked, "No takers? Aye, that's too bad, mates. That was the last opportunity you will be given."

I risked a glance at Graham. His hand still held mine but by his expression, his thoughts seemed miles away. My gaze returned to the captain as he spoke again, summoning Smith forward.

"Mr. Smith." The captain tilted his head back, his left brow rising as he appeared to size up the other captain. "Under the present circumstances, it is only fitting to appoint you as my first mate. I'm afraid it's a bit of a demotion but I warrant you shalln't mind as long as it means you will continue breathing."

Smith said nothing as the captain finished and when, after a moment, the silence held, the captain turned his head to the right, his eyes narrowing. "What say ye?"

The new first mate raised himself to his full height and without looking at the captain, gave his "Aye, Captain!"

At this, a smug smile played on the captain's lips and he glanced at me, raising a brow. He began to circle Smith, saying, "Mr. Smith, aboard this ship, you are to refer to me as only Captain or the captain. You will follow each and every order without question. I am your master and I can make your time of service very, very painful if I so choose."

Here, the captain stopped. He stood behind Smith and glanced at me as he said, "Is this understood?"

As he waited for an answer, his gaze still held mine but now, he bore a positively wicked grin. My brows knit as I watched, wondering what to make of this display. And then Smith opened his mouth and had only just begun his "aye" when the captain whirled and with a gleam, raised his hook. Smith immediately fell.

Simultaneously, I heard a scream and it took a moment before I realized it had come from me. As I'd uttered it, I had also attempted to run to the aid of our fallen comrade but I now found Graham's arms locked around me, preventing my flight. He held me fast as the captain regarded us in utter delight. But we were too caught up in our grief to notice.

The red pool had already begun to spread across the deck, slowly blossoming to fill each space and flow to every corner. Smith had fallen forward but slumped sideways and he now lay facing us. He had gasped for a few moments after hitting the deck but he had since been still for several moments. The red line on his neck had parted and now lay open and gaping, almost as though he possessed a second mouth.

I found the scene horrifying but I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away.

It wasn't until the captain stood at my side that I noticed his presence. He had wrapped his hand round his hook and was slowly pulling his hand toward its tip as he cleaned the blade. When he'd finished this, he moved his hand to my waist, resting it firmly on my stomach.

He leaned toward me and spoke quietly but still loudly enough for Graham to hear as well. "If I were you lot, I'd start cleaning that up before it really spreads. Bloody difficult if you let it get too far."

Then, with a smile, he straightened and dragged his hand across my stomach as he began to walk away. I shuddered involuntarily as, even after his hand had gone, I could still feel it.

Once behind us, he raised his voice as though calling to a crew of fifty men rather than just us two. "Princess, swab the deck. I want it so clean, I can see my reflection.

"Boy, in light of the recent demise of my former first mate, the job is now yours. Keep watch on the sails and see to it we don't veer off course. We have a lot of sea to cover in a short while."

For a moment, my grief was left at bay and my eyes widened at his words. His strange behavior suddenly made sense. And as this became clear, the words left my mouth before I could even begin to stop them.

"We're not following the other ship. We're not going to port."

Although I couldn't see the captain, I knew he had moved to stand behind me even before he spoke. I could even picture his smug smile and, as I did, a chill ran down my spine.

"Ah, wonderful. You've got the idea, Princess. Good."

And then the feeling was gone. He'd retreated once more and when he spoke again, it was from farther behind us, his voice raised once more to address his "large" crew.

"I'm off to sleep. And before either of you get any mutinous ideas into your head, I'll be locking my cabin whilst I dream. Wake me if there's trouble." We heard the door open but instead of another creak, signaling its close, he seemed to pause.

"If there's not, I'll be back in a few hours and I expect to find my ship in top shape. If I don't, well, I won't tell you the consequences."

We could hear his dark and hollow laugh even after the door had banged shut, causing us both to jump.

I shivered again and Graham held me tighter as, together, we just stood there, staring out into the bright blue sea as Smith's now lifeless eyes continued to watch over the two trapped comrades he'd only just left behind.